The Story of Alberta's Past
Seven episodes that attempt to examine why Alberta is one of the most innovative jurisdictions in Canada.
The series looks past the “great men” version of history and
into the underlying machinery that drives innovation: institutions, disruptions, leadership, resources, incentives, and the stories we keep telling about ourselves.
A Seven Part Series
Across seven episodes, the series asks: Is Alberta’s innovation story driven by
leadership, resources, timing, or the narratives we repeat until they become self-
fulfilling?
Through interviews, archival material, and an examination of on-the-ground places, A New Lens shows how individual innovative ideas turn into businesses, better
workplaces, institutions, and how they all reshape lives.
Max Foran, Ph.D, AOE
Retired University of Calgary historian, with several history books as well as novels to his credit, is widely celebrated as an influential teacher, author, historian, media figure, and wildlife activist.
Heather Devine, Ph.D.
Métis historian, curator and consultant and retired professor at the University of Calgary has roots in the Qu’Appelle Valley and Saulteaux Village (Baie St. Paul) in Manitoba. Through her writings she has generated a new school of Metis studies based on prosopography.
Curtis Frederick
University Records Archivist at the University of Calgary. His deep knowledge of the Glenbow, Western Canadian and Alberta history collections is critical to any study of the Province. He is frequently found at special collections in the Taylor Family Digital Library advising researchers.
Tom Keenan, Ph.D.
Professor at the University of Calgary is a specialist in ICT security, the social implications of technologies and the author of several best – selling books. As a media personality, he has excited a generation of younger scholars in information technologies and the digital world.
Terry Ross, Ph.D.
The Director of IP and Partnerships with the National Cybersecurity Consortium, Calgary. His highly regarded doctoral dissertation investigated the history of innovation in Alberta, the first serious study of the subject.
Hon. David King
Retired politician and education policy activist. He was an Alberta MLA from August 1971 until April 1986, during which time he served as Minister of Education (1979–1986), and Minister of Technology, Research, and Telecommunications (1986).
Calvin Williams (Mahtsaohhtaan - Pretty Shields)
Elder representative on the Red Crow Community College, a member (1986-88) of Blood Tribe Chief and Council, and a former Crime Prevention Coordinator of the Blood Indian Reserve. A member of a number of sacred societies he has a deep understanding of the history, culture and world views of the Kainai.
Mary Weasel Fat (Diving Around Woman)
Long-time librarian at Kainai Nation’s Red Crow Community College, and the first editor of its press. She was key in rebuilding the college library after a disastrous fire destroyed most of the collection. As important, she contributed to the development of the College’s Kainai base social work program. She is widely recognized for her passionate promotion of Indigenous education.
Troy Patenaude, Ph.D.
Assistant professor of Indigenous Studies at the Alberta University of the Arts is a Metis educator, a cultural and art historian, guide, and land-based educator. He has curated and co-curated exhibits on Treaty 7 and on Southern Alberta Metis. Much of his research is on Indigenous ways of knowing, particularly as it relate to the arts.
Keith Regular, Ph.D.
Author, historian and researcher. His early research on the Kainai agricultural economy and its intersection with the regional communities was published by the University of Calgary Press. It is a landmark study of Kainai political and economic innovation.
Hon. Fred Bradley
Retired politician. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1975 to 1993, and as the Minister of the Environment from 1982 to 1986. He continues to be actively involved in community heritage preservation and interpretation as a catalyst and innovator.
David Elliott, Ph.D.
Retired professor of Canadian and European history has written and researched Canada’s religious history. He is a Canadian authority on William Aberhart and has lectured widely on the premier as well as the province’s religious past. He has a continuing interest in Irish genealogy as well.
Randy Kvill
Retired Curator, Agriculture and Industry at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. Shaped much of the collection and assisted in the development of its interpretation focus. He is recognized internationally as a specialist in the technology behind Alberta’s agricultural and industrial history.
Jovan Kvill
Educated as a machinist at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He was the coordinator of Exhibits and Collection Services at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum before becoming its Restoration Machinist. His knowledge of machines is invaluable to anyone studying innovation in agriculture or industry in Alberta.
Brian Manning
Graduate of Mohawk College in Ontario, is the Curator of Agriculture and Industry Collections at the Reynolds Alberta. The Past President of the Heritage Boiler Association of Alberta, Brian is the North American resource for anything relating to historic pressure vessels, boilers and power engineering.
Diane Peterson
Started working as an interpreter for the Frank Slide Centre in 1999. However, the Bellevue Mine was her passion and in 2005 she took a position there and within the year became its Executive Director. She has developed underground mine and social history interpretative programmes that are recognized throughout Alberta.
Terry Barlow
Spent 40 years of his life working the underground mines in the Crowsnest Pass and later the mines at Elkford. After he retired he joined the interpretative and the restoration maintenance team at the Bellevue Underground mine. He has an intimate knowledge of mining in the Crowsnest Pass the daily experiences of the miners.
Robert Lampard, MD
Recognized as one of the key one hundred Alberta physicians of the century, has worked tirelessly to document the accomplishments of Alberta’s medical pioneers. He has not only chronicled their achievements on his web site, he has also popularized Alberta’s medical achievements through his other publications and public presentations.
Frits Pannekoek, Ph.D., AOE
Researcher and Narrator
Frits Pannekoek brings a lifetime of expertise in preserving Western Canadian history to this project. His distinguished career includes serving as the Director of Historic Sites for the Alberta government, where he helped establish several major historic sites like the Reynolds Alberta Museum and the Frank Slide Centre.
While Director of Information Resources at the University of Calgary and later as President of Athabasca University, he continued to be a passionate advocate for heritage, identity and open education.
Frits has dedicated his life to helping Albertans understand their collective identity.
Adam Manery
Director of Photography and Editor
The founder of The Narrative Lens Videography in Calgary, Adam brings a unique approach to filmmaking and storytelling.
Formerly a politics and social studies teacher in both England and Calgary, he approaches this work with a blend of cinematic and educational insight.
Beyond this production, Adam is active in the wider film industry, where he interviews directors and emerging filmmakers to shine a light on independent cinema.
Further Reading
Explore the complete bibliography of books, articles, and archival records that form the foundation of Alberta’s Past: A New Lens.
For Classrooms & Community Screenings
Curriculum guides, discussion questions, and classroom materials for Alberta’s Past: A New Lens are currently in development. In the meantime, full transcripts and the series bibliography are freely available.